Connecting People, Resources & Capital to Help Create 55,000+ Jobs in Southern California.
Octane is future-focused.
Octane is a convening organization of the Southern California technology and medical technology business ecosystem. We connect people, resources and capital. We will help create 55,000+ high-paying technology jobs in Southern California by 2030 through our accelerator LaunchPad SBDC as well as our platform Octane Capital & Growth. In addition, Octane hosts dozens of programs throughout the year and has direct access to capital and partners. We believe that action focused locally has impact globally.
Octane Foundation for Innovation*
The Octane Foundation for Innovation (OFI) was launched as a complement to Octane’s mission of creating 55,000+ high-paying jobs by 2030. The Foundation is targeted to advance equity, diversity, and inclusiveness across all industry sectors alongside Octane’s ambitious mission of growing & strengthening the Southern California innovation ecosystem by creating jobs, scaling startups, and developing businesses. Octane and OFI work with partners to enhance the economic vitality of the region, contribute to a sustainable ecosystem and augment the live/work experience in Orange County.
Octane Foundation for Innovation’s work is achieved through our initiatives, Women Leaders of Octane, Non-Profit Accelerator, and STEAM Fellows. These initiatives cover the spectrum of opportunities for young students, underserved communities, and women.
Since 2010, LaunchPad has helped companies receive $4.3B in funding. Those companies have created 26,316 jobs.
Our Team
Our Team is based in sunny Southern California, with our offices in Newport Beach, CA.
Bill Carpou
Chief Executive Officer
Janelle Brunette
Chief Operating Officer
Natalie Matsumoto
Director, Marketing
Teresa Madden
Senior Director, Partner Relations
Linda DiMario
Director, Community Engagement, Octane Foundation for Innovation
Mike Hill
Managing Director, Octane Capital Markets
David Beck
Vice President, Octane Capital & Growth
Carol DiStanislao
Managing Director, Octane Capital & Growth
Cara Parchment
Senior Signature Event Manager, Aesthetics & Ophthalmology Tech Forum
Zeeshan Subzwari
Managing Director, healthsocal.ai
Cara Davidoff
Managing Director, Next Wave
Rita Battocchio
Head of Events
Ivy Zhou
Marketing & Graphic Design Specialist
Cheryl Wood
Senior Signature Event Manager
Andree Jacques
Director, Operations
Ryan Nishimoto
Joseph Wyno
Director, LaunchPad SBDC
Shaun Sanders
Senior Associate Director, LaunchPad SBDC
Yuewen Chun
Sales Operations Analyst
Laura Beken
Senior Advisor, Octane
Marc Bellotti
Senior Advisor, Octane
Ted Wilm
Managing Director, Capital Markets & Strategies
Kenneth Stanigar
Senior Advisor, Octane
David Friedman
Senior Advisor, Octane
Paul Symczak
Senior Advisor, Octane
RJ Teno
Senior Advisor, Octane
Tom Mattoon
Senior Advisor, Octane
Kevin Nicusanti
Senior Advisor, Octane
Kip Knight
Chair, Octane Marketing Leaders Peer Group
Earl Slee
Chair, Octane Mavericks Peer Group
Jeffry Weinhuff
Managing Partner, Visionary Venture Fund
Garrett Hamontree
Principal, Visionary Venture Fund
Lori-Ann Christie, PhD
Principal, Visionary Venture Fund
Scott Kitcher
General Partner, Elevation Ventures
Neal Rickner
Managing Partner, Elevation Ventures
Alex Shoer
Venture Partner, Elevation Ventures
Rachel Payne
Venture Partner, Elevation Ventures
Events Search and Views Navigation
July 2022
Healthsocal.ai Official Launch Event
Come join our fireside chat panel on Mental Health and AI, which will include business, technology, and community leaders discussing how to solve for mental health issues in underserved and underrepresented SoCal communities via Artificial Intelligence. Be the first to hear about our point of view on AI in mental health along with various areas of engagement for collective impact. Join for our first in-person launch of healthsocal.ai on July 13th, which will include a fireside chat panel followed by…
Find out more »Women Leaders of Octane – July Quarterly Meeting
RSVP Here Please join Women Leaders of Octane for our virtual quarterly meeting, Wednesday, July 20 from 12 - 1 pm PST, featuring Spotlight Thought Leader, Mina Sooch, CEO, President, and Founder of Ocuphire Pharma and Vice-Chair of the Board. In addition to our thought leader, our committee chairs will share progress reports: Our Committees and Committee Chairs: Creating Women-led Businesses & LaunchPad Committee – Marinela Gombosev, SPARK Neuro Funding Committee – Delilah Panio, Toronto Stock Exchange Women on Boards…
Find out more »WLO Convene
Each quarter, one or more of our Women Leaders of Octane will plan a date and location for women to gather (not sponsored) for a casual cocktail hour at a local area bar/restaurant patio. Join these WLO Convene events to expand your network as we work to increase the ranks of women entrepreneurs and business leaders, help facilitate access to funding, and influence more women on boards. Thursday, July 28 5:00 pm, Bistango, 19100 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA. Register…
Find out more »August 2022
Summer Social 2022
2022 is a big year for Octane as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary. We are so grateful for everyone who supports our business as members, partners and advocates. We hope you come and enjoy an evening of appetizers, drinks, guided tours of Edwards Lifesciences and mingle with Octane Board of Directors, Leadership Teams and other luminaries who have contributed to our success over the last 20 years. Wednesday, August 10, at Edwards Lifesciences Headquarters in Irvine, CA 5:00PM - 7:00PM…
Find out more »Leadership Ignite Series with Ramin Mousavi, President & CEO of CathWorks
Leadership Ignite Series 2022 This year, Octane will host a series of six intimate Zoom sessions featuring prominent leaders in Orange County. Each session will allow you to hear about the leader and ask them questions in an intimate digital or in-person session (when applicable). Join us for this exciting opportunity. All sessions have limited capacity. Join us at our upcoming event: August 18th: 10-11AM PST - Ramin Mousavi, President & CEO of CathWorks Topic: Leading Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The…
Find out more »September 2022
High Tech Awards 2022
The much-anticipated High Tech Awards celebrate the top innovators, entrepreneurs and technology leaders in Orange County. Join us for the 2022 High Tech Awards to celebrate and recognize those individuals and companies who make Orange County a center of technology and medical technology innovation. RSVP here September 29, 2022 at the AV Irvine, 16500 Scientific Way, Irvine, CA 92618
Find out more »October 2022
Octane / Insperity Webinar: Recession, Inflation, Business realities – what they mean to your employees and your profits
Join Octane and Insperity for a live webinar on Wednesday, October 12th at 8AM PST. Tough times don't last; tough people do. In business, tough means resilient, adaptable, strategic, and focused on a vision. Unfortunately, the news lately has been ominous, and the economy, the stock market, and the supply chain are all telling us there might be a storm approaching. This webinar will discuss things you, as a business owner or leader, can do to shore up your people…
Find out more »Women Leaders of Octane Quarterly Meeting – October 2022
RSVP Here Please join Women Leaders of Octane for our virtual quarterly meeting, Wednesday, October 19th from 12 - 1 pm PST, featuring Spotlight Thought Leader, Caren Mason, President and Chief Executive Officer at STARR Surgical. In addition to our thought leader, our committee chairs will share progress reports. Our Committees and Committee Chairs: Creating Women-led Businesses & LaunchPad Committee – Marinela Gombosev, SPARK Neuro Funding Committee – Delilah Panio, Toronto Stock Exchange Women on Boards Committee – Joyce Averna, JP…
Find out more »WLO Workshop: Women on Corporate Boards
Join us at for a Women Leaders of Octane interactive workshop part of Octane's Medical Innovation Forum taking place October 27-28 at the Irvine Marriott! You must be registered for the forum to attend this free workshop. Register first for Octane's Medical Innovation Forum here. Once registered for the Forum, to attend the Women On Boards Workshop you can sign up here>> Women on Corporate Boards: What it’s Like, How to Prepare & How To Do It Thursday, October 27…
Find out more »November 2022
Webinar: Thinking of Opening a US Branch Office? US Work Visa Options
Setting up a business in the USA can be quite exciting. But there are also many challenges. In-depth market research and planning can minimize the risks. Join Mitch Wexler, Managing Partner, Fragomen as he discusses US Work Visa Options. This will go over the more common visa options that you should consider, their timelines, eligibility requirements, challenges and the application process for each. Register Here>>
Find out more »